12/27/2006

Stretching the taskbarSometimes your taskbar gets a little tight and cramped for room. When this happens, give it a stretch.First, unlock your taskbar by right-clicking the taskbar, and then clicking Lock the Taskbar if it is selected (this will un-select it). Scroll your mouse over the top edge of the taskbar until you see the vertical resize cursor (arrow pointing up and down). Click, hold and drag the top of the taskbar up. Isn't that better? Once you find a place where you like it, you should re-select Lock the Taskbar

Open files with one clickIt just makes sense that if you can do the same thing in Windows with a single click of the mouse that you can do with two clicks, you'd take the shorter route, right?If you want to change your two clicks to one, click Start, click My Computer. Under the Tools menu, click Folder Options. Now click the General tab in the dialog box, click Single-click to open an item (point to select), and then click OK. This makes everything in Windows exactly one click faster.Change your pointer schemeThe first thing I do when I get a new computer is head straight for the cursors and change them. It's not that the default ones are bad; I've just been using the same ones forever and I'm not comfortable using anything else. If you want to change your pointer scheme, click Start, and then click Control Panel. In Category View (vs. Classic View) click on Printers and OtherHardware, and then click on Mouse. Click the Pointers tab and browse the available themes. Select the one that suits you best, and then click OK.

Change the power buttonI rarely ever shut down my computer; instead, I tend to put my system into stand by mode. Here's a clever way to speed up this task and make your computer's power button put your computer into stand by for you. Click Start and open the Control Panel. In Category View, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click Power Options. In the Power Options Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Under Power Buttons, select Stand by in the When I press the power button on my computer area, and then click OK. Now, when you push your computer's power button, your system will immediately go to stand by.

12/18/2006

1I had so much fun assembling the Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts, and they proved to be so popular, that I put together another one just for Firefox. In addition to the shortcuts, I included additional reference information for configuring Firefox.

Download the Firefox Keyboard Shortcuts tri-fold. Just as with the latest version of the Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts, do not forget to print double-sided on a single sheet of paper. Also be sure to validate the driver is set to print in landscape.

12/05/2006

Here is my current list of keyboard shortcut that i frequently use at work. An asterisk (*) means a custom keyboard mapping that i am using. I'm currently on a one week no-mouse therapy hopefully to learn more to use the keyboard.

Firefox/: Find textF3 : Next FindCtrl+T : Open new TabAlt+Enter : Open in new tab the result of search if in quick search, location if in URL barCtrl+L : Go to Location barCtrl+K : Go to Web search bar

Virtual PCLeft Alt+Down : Minimize Virtual PCLeft Alt+Enter : MaximizeLeft Alt+Delete : Next FindCtrl+T : Open new TabAlt+Enter : Open in new tab the result of search if in quick search, location if in URL bar

Remote DesktopCtrl+Alt+Pause : Switch from Full Screen to Windowed (i'd rather do the normal keyboard shortcuts in full screen)

Other tricks With the arrow cursor: Control + Click and Drag - Duplicates a shape

By hitting the control key first (Macintosh & Windows) and THEN clicking and dragging on a selected shape or group of shapes, you will create a duplicate of those shapes at the spot where you release the mouse button.Command/Control Clicking a keyframe to move frame Command/Control clicking a frame in the timeline switches the cursor to a slider, and allows you to click and drag that frame to a new place in the timeline within that same layer. This is a very useful function for editing the positioning of tweens, etc. in the time line.

With the magnifier tool:Control + Click - Toggles to the opposite magnifier. If the + magnifier (zoom in) is active, and you hit Control while clicking, you will switch to the - magnifier and actually zoom OUT.

With the dropper tool:Shift + Click - Select a color for both fill and outline tools Clicking a red fill will do the same, giving you the Bucket tool, and switching fill colors to red. But the outline tool colors are not changed. Clicking on text switches the text tool to that color, and gives you the text tool. Shift clicking with the dropper makes the color you click on active for ALL tools, and doesn't automatically switch you to any tool. It leaves the dropper active.This is one of the least well known short cuts in Flash, and is the ONLY way to use the dropper on an outline for example, and then be able to switch to the fill tool and have that color automatically active already.

Display Help : F1.Toggle between full-screen and regular views of the browser window :F11.Move forward through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar : TAB.Move back through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar : SHIFT+TAB.Go to your home page : ALT+HOME.Go to the next page : ALT+RIGHT ARROW.Go to the previous page : ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE.Display a shortcut menu for a link : SHIFT+F10.Move forward through frames and browser elements (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled) : CTRL+TAB or F6.Move backward between frames (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled) : CTRL+SHIFT+TABScroll towardthe beginning of a document : UP ARROW.Scroll toward the end of a document : DOWN ARROW.Scroll toward the beginning of a document in larger increments : PAGE UP.Scroll toward the end of a document in larger increments : PAGE DOWN.Move to the beginning of a document : HOME.Move to the end of a document : END.Find on this page : CTRL+F.Refresh the current webpage : F5. Refresh the current webpage, even if the time stamp for the web version and your locally stored version are the same : CTRL+F5 .Stop downloading a page : ESC .Open a new website or page : CTRL+O Open a new window : CTRL+N Close the current window (if you only have one tab open) : CTRL+W Save the current page : CTRL+S Print the current page or active frame : CTRL+P Activate a selected link : ENTEROpen Favorites : CTRL+I Open History : CTRL+H Open Feeds : CTRL+J Open the Page menu : ALT+POpen the Tools menu : ALT+T Open the Help menu : ALT+H

9/16/2006

Navigate in Design viewTo switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode : F2To switch to the property sheet (Design view in forms and reports in databases and Access projects) : F4 To switch to Form view from form Design view : F5 To switch between the upper and lower portions of a window (Design view of the Advanced Filter/Sort window only) : F6 To switch to the Code Builder from form or report Design view (Design view window or property sheet) : F7 Invokes the field list in a form, report , or data access page. If field list is already open, moves focus to field list : F8 To switch from the Visual Basic Editor to form or report Design view : SHIFT+F7 To switch from a control's property sheet in form or report Design view to the design surface without changing the control focus : SHIFT+F7To display a property sheet in Design view : ALT+ENTERTo open the selected form in Form view : ENTER or ALT+O To open the selected table, query, form, report, data access page, macro, or module in Design view : CTRL+ENTER or ALT+DWith focus set to a section, will move the focus to a subsection : CTRL+TAB To add a control to a section : SHIFT+ENTERTo copy the selected control to the Clipboard : CTRL+C To cut the selected control and copy it to the Clipboard : CTRL+X To paste the contents of the Clipboard in the upper-left corner of the selected section : CTRL+V To move the selected control to the right by a pixel along the page's grid : RIGHT ARROWTo move the selected control to the left by a pixel along the page’s grid : LEFT ARROWTo move the selected control up by a pixel along the page’s grid : UP ARROWTo move the selected control down by a pixel along the page’s grid : DOWN ARROWTo move the selected control to the right by a pixel (irrespective of the page’s grid) : CTRL+RIGHT ARROWTo move the selected control to the left by a pixel (irrespective of the page’s grid) : CTRL+LEFT ARROWTo move the selected control up by a pixel (irrespective of the page’s grid) : CTRL+UP ARROWTo move the selected control down by a pixel (irrespective of the page’s grid) : CTRL+DOWN ARROWTo increase the width of the selected control (to the right) by a pixel : SHIFT+RIGHT ARROWTo decrease the width of the selected control (to the left) by a pixel :SHIFT+LEFT ARROWTo decrease the height of the selected control (from the bottom) by a pixel : SHIFT+UP ARROWTo increase the height of the selected control (from the bottom) by a pixel : SHIFT+DOWN ARROWTo move the focus from the page design surface to the address/subject dialog box when sending a page as an e-mail : SHIFT+TABTo move the focus from the Field List or Data Outline back to the data access page design surface : ESCNavigate in Datasheet viewTo move to the Record number box then type the record number and press ENTER : F5To move to the next field : TAB or RIGHT ARROWTo move to the last field in the current record, in Navigation mode : ENDTo move to the previous field : SHIFT+TAB, or LEFT ARROWTo move to the first field in the current record, in Navigation mode : HOMETo move to the current field in the next record : DOWN ARROWTo move to the current field in the last record, in Navigation mode : CTRL+DOWN ARROWTo move to the last field in the last record, in Navigation mode : CTRL+ENDTo move to the current field in the previous record : UP ARROWTo move to the current field in the first record, in Navigation mode : CTRL+UP ARROWTo move to the first field in the first record, in Navigation mode : CTRL+HOMETo go down one screen : PAGE DOWNTo go up one screen : PAGE UPTo go right one screen : CTRL+PAGE DOWNTo go left one screen : CTRL+PAGE UPNavigate in subdatasheetsFrom the datasheet to expand the record’s subdatasheet : CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN ARROWTo collapse the subdatasheet : CTRL+SHIFT+UP ARROWTo enter the subdatasheet from the last field of the previous record in the datasheetTABTo enter the subdatasheet from the first field of the following record in the datasheetSHIFT+TABTo exit the subdatasheet and move to the first field of the next record in the datasheetCTRL+TABTo exit the subdatasheet and move to the last field of the previous record in the datasheetCTRL+SHIFT+TABFrom the last field in the subdatasheet to enter the next field in the datasheetTABFrom the datasheet to bypass the subdatasheet and move to the next record in the datasheetDOWN ARROWFrom the datasheet to bypass the subdatasheet and move to the previous record in the datasheetUP ARROWNote : You can navigate between fields and records in a subdatasheet with the same shortcut keys used in Datasheet viewNavigate in Print Preview and Layout PreviewTo open the Print dialog boxP or CTRL+PTo open the Page Setup dialog boxSTo zoom in or out on a part of the pageZTo cancel Print Preview or Layout PreviewC or ESCTo move to the page number box; then type the page number and press ENTERF5To view the next page (when Fit To Window is selected)PAGE DOWN or DOWN ARROWTo view the previous page (when Fit To Window is selected)PAGE UP or UP ARROWTo scroll down in small incrementsDOWN ARROWTo scroll down one full screenPAGE DOWNTo move to the bottom of the pageCTRL+DOWN ARROWTo scroll up in small incrementsUP ARROWTo scroll up one full screenPAGE UPTo move to the top of the pageCTRL+UP ARROWTo scroll to the right in small incrementsRIGHT ARROWTo move to the right edge of the pageEND or CTRL+RIGHT ARROWTo move to the lower-right corner of the pageCTRL+ENDTo scroll to the left in small incrementsLEFT ARROWTo move to the left edge of the pageHOME or CTRL+LEFT ARROWTo move to the upper-left corner of the pageCTRL+HOME

9/15/2006

Selecting text in a fieldTo extend one character to the rightSHIFT+RIGHT ARROWTo extend one word to the rightCTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROWTo extend one character to the leftSHIFT+LEFT ARROWTo extend one word to the leftCTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROWSelecting a field or recordNote : To cancel a selection, use the opposite arrow key.To select the next fieldTABTo switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation modeF2To switch between selecting the current record and the first field of the current record, in Navigation modeSHIFT+SPACEBARTo extend selection to the previous record, if the current record is selectedSHIFT+UP ARROWTo extend selection to the next record, if the current record is selectedSHIFT+DOWN ARROWTo select all recordsCTRL+A or CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBARTo turn on Extend mode (EXT appears in the lower-right corner of the window); pressing F8 repeatedly extends the selection to the word, the field, the record (in Datasheet view only), and all recordsF8To extend a selection to adjacent fields in the same row in Datasheet viewLEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROWTo extend a selection to adjacent rows in Datasheet viewUP ARROW or DOWN ARROWTo undo the previous extensionSHIFT+F8To cancel Extend modeESCTo select the current column or cancel the column selection, in Navigation mode onlyCTRL+SPACEBARTo select the column to the right, if the current column is selectedSHIFT+RIGHT ARROWTo select the column to the left, if the current column is selectedSHIFT+LEFT ARROWTo turn on Move mode; then press the RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW key to move selected column(s) to the right or leftCTRL+SHIFT+F8Edit text and dataNote : If the insertion point isn't visible, press F2 to display it.To move it one character to the rightRIGHT ARROWTo move it one word to the rightCTRL+RIGHT ARROWTo move it one character to the leftLEFT ARROWTo move it one word to the leftCTRL+LEFT ARROWTo move it to the end of the field, in single-line fieldsENDTo move it to the end of the field, in multiple-line fieldsCTRL+ENDTo move it to the beginning of the field, in single-line fieldsHOMETo move it to the beginning of the field, in multiple-line fieldsCTRL+HOMETo copy the selection to the ClipboardCTRL+CTo cut the selection and copy it to the ClipboardCTRL+XTo paste the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion pointCTRL+VTo delete the selection or the character to the left of the insertion pointBACKSPACETo delete the selection or the character to the right of the insertion pointDELETETo delete all characters to the right of the insertion pointCTRL+DELETETo undo typingCTRL+Z or ALT+BACKSPACETo insert the current dateCTRL+SEMICOLON (;)To insert the current timeCTRL+SHIFT+COLON (:)To insert the default value for a fieldCTRL+ALT+SPACEBARTo insert the value from the same field in the previous recordCTRL+APOSTROPHE (')To add a new recordCTRL+PLUS SIGN (+)To delete the current recordCTRL+MINUS SIGN (-)To save changes to the current recordSHIFT+ENTERTo switch between the values in a check box or option buttonSPACEBARTo insert a new lineCTRL+ENTERTo recalculate the fields in the windowF9To requery the underlying tables; in a subform, this requeries the underlying table for the subform onlySHIFT+F9Refresh the contents of a Lookup field list box or combo boxF9

To rename a selected objectF2To move down one lineDOWN ARROWTo move down one windowPAGE DOWNTo move to the last objectENDTo move up one lineUP ARROWTo move up one windowPAGE UPTo move to the first objectHOMETo cycle through the Objects bar top to bottomCTRL+TABTo cycle through the Objects bar bottom to topSHIFT+CTRL+TABTo open the selected table or query in Datasheet view, or form in Form viewENTER or ALT+OTo open the selected report in Print PreviewENTERTo open the selected data access page in Page viewENTERTo run the selected macroENTERTo open the selected table, query, form, report, data access page, macro, or module in Design viewCTRL+ENTER or ALT+DTo create a new table, query, form, report, data access page, macro, or moduleALT+NTo refresh the Database windowF5To display the Immediate window in the Visual Basic EditorCTRL+GTo show the shortcut menuSHIFT+F10To make the menu bar activeF10To show the program icon menu (on the program title bar)ALT+SPACEBARWith the menu or submenu is visible, to select the next or previous commandDOWN ARROW or UP ARROWTo select the menu to the left or right; or, when a submenu is visible, to switch between the main menu and the submenuLEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROWTo select the first or last command on the menu or submenuHOME or ENDTo close the visible menu and submenu at the same timeALTTo close the visible menu; or, with a submenu visible, to close the submenu onlyESCTo select the next or previous toolbarCTRL+TAB or CTRL+SHIFT+TABWhen a toolbar is active, to select the next or previous button or menu on the toolbarTAB or SHIFT+TABWhen a menu on a toolbar is selected, to open the menuENTERWhen a button is selected, to perform the action assigned to a buttonENTERTo switch to the next programALT+TABTo switch to the previous programALT+SHIFT+TABTo show the Windows Start menuCTRL+ESCTo close the active database windowCTRL+WTo switch to the next database windowCTRL+F6To switch to the previous database windowCTRL+SHIFT+F6To restore the selected minimized window when all windows are minimizedENTERTo switch to the next tab in a dialog boxCTRL+TAB or CTRL+PAGE DOWNTo switch to the previous tab in a dialog boxCTRL+SHIFT+TAB or CTRL+PAGE UPTo move to the next option or option groupTABTo move to the previous option or option groupSHIFT+TABTo move between options in the selected drop-down list box, or to move between some options in a group of optionsArrow keysTo perform the action assigned to the selected button; select or clear the check boxSPACEBARTo move to the option by the first letter in the option name in a drop-down list boxLetter key for the first letter in the option name you want (when a drop-down list box is selected)To select the option, or to select or clear the check box by the letter underlined in the option nameALT+letter keyTo open the selected drop-down list boxALT+DOWN ARROWTo close the selected drop-down list boxESCTo perform the action assigned to the default button in the dialog boxENTERTo cancel the command and close the dialog boxESCTo close a dialog boxALT+F4To move to the beginning of the entryHOMETo move to the end of the entryENDTo move one character to the left or rightLEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROWTo move one word to the left or rightCTRL+LEFT ARROW or CTRL+RIGHT ARROWTo select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entrySHIFT+HOMETo select from the insertion point to the end of the entrySHIFT+ENDTo select one character to the leftSHIFT+LEFT ARROWTo select one character to the rightSHIFT+RIGHT ARROWTo select one word to the leftCTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROWTo select one word to the rightCTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROWGo to the previous folder ()ALT+1Open the folder up one level from the open folder(Up One Level button)ALT+2Close the dialog box, and open your World Wide WebWorld Wide Web search page (Search the Web button)ALT+3Delete the selected folder or file (Delete button )ALT+4Create a new subfolder in the open folder(Create New Folder button)ALT+5Switch between List, Details, Properties, and Preview viewsALT+6Show the Tools menu (Tools button)ALT+7Send the active database object as an e-mail messageALT+F+D+AOpen the Address BookCTRL+SHIFT+BCheck the names in the To, Cc, and Bcc boxes against the Address BookALT+KSelect the next box in the e-mail header or the body of the message when the last box in the e-mail header is activeTABSelect the previous field or button in the e-mail headerSHIFT+TAB

9/14/2006

To open a new databaseCTRL+NTo open an existing databaseCTRL+OTo quit Microsoft AccessALT+F4To print the current or selected objectCTRL+PTo open the Print dialog boxP or CTRL+PTo open the Page Setup dialog boxSTo cancel Print Preview or Layout PreviewC or ESCTo save a database objectCTRL+S or SHIFT+F12 or ALT+SHIFT+F2To open the Save As dialog boxF12 or ALT+F2To open a combo boxF4 or ALT+DOWN ARROWTo move down one lineDOWN ARROWTo move down one pagePAGE DOWNTo move up one lineUP ARROWTo move up one pagePAGE UPTo exit the combo box or list boxTABTo open the Find tab in the Find and Replace dialog box (Datasheet view and Form view only)CTRL+FTo open the Replace tab in the Find and Replace dialog box (Datasheet view and Form view only)CTRL+HTo find the next occurrence of the text specified in the Find and Replace dialog box when the dialog box is closed (Datasheet view and Form view only)SHIFT+F4To switch to the property sheet (Design view in forms and reports in databases and Access projects)F4To switch to Form view from form Design viewF5To switch between the upper and lower portions of a window (Design view of tables, macros, and queries and the Advanced Filter/Sort window only)F6To switch to the Code Builder from form or report Design view (Design view window or property sheet)F7To switch from the Visual Basic Editor to form or report Design viewSHIFT+F7To open property sheet for a selected objectALT+V+PTo add a control to a sectionSHIFT+ENTERTo copy the selected control to the ClipboardCTRL+CTo cut the selected control and copy it to the ClipboardCTRL+XTo paste the contents of the Clipboard in the upper-left corner of the selected sectionCTRL+VTo move the selected control to the rightCTRL+RIGHT ARROWTo move the selected control to the leftCTRL+LEFT ARROWTo move the selected control upCTRL+UP ARROWTo move the selected control downCTRL+DOWN ARROWTo increase the height of the selected controlSHIFT+DOWN ARROWTo increase the width of the selected controlSHIFT+RIGHT ARROWTo reduce the height of the selected controlSHIFT+UP ARROWTo reduce the width of the selected controlSHIFT+LEFT ARROWTo bring the Database window to the frontF11To cycle between open windowsCTRL+F6To restore the selected minimized window when all windows are minimizedENTERTo turn on Resize mode for the active window when it’s not maximized; press the arrow keys to resize the windowCTRL+F8To display the Control menuALT+SPACEBARTo display the shortcut menuSHIFT+F10To close the active windowCTRL+W or CTRL+F4To switch between the Visual Basic Editor and the previous active windowALT+F11To switch to the Microsoft Script Editor from the previous active windowALT+SHIFT+F11

General Keyboard-Only CommandsF1: Starts Windows HelpF10: Activates menu bar optionsSHIFT + F10: Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item(this is the same as right clicking an object)CTRL + ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)CTRL + ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)ALT + DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list boxALT + TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run featureALT + SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)ALT +- (ALT + hyphen) : Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI)child window's System menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)CTRL + TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) programALT + underlined letter in menu: Opens the menuALT + F4: Closes the current windowCTRL + F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) windowALT + F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same programALT + F6: switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window

Shell Objects and General Folder/Windows Explorer Shortcuts For a selected objectF2: Rename objectF3: Find all filesCTRL + X: CutCTRL + C: CopyCTRL + V: PasteSHIFT + DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle BinALT + ENTER: Open the properties for the selected objectTo Copy a File: Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.To Create a Shortcut: Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General Folder/Shortcut Control F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)F5: Refreshes the current windowF6: Moves among panes in Windows ExplorerCTRL + G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)CTRL + Z: Undo the last commandCTRL + A: Select all the items in the current windowBACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folderSHIFT + click + Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders

Windows Explorer Tree Control Numeric Keypad: Expands everything under the current selectionNumeric Keypad +: Expands the current selectionNumeric Keypad - : Collapses the current selectionRIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first childLEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parentProperties ControlCTRL + TAB/CTRL + SHIFT + TAB: Move through the property tabsAccessibility ShortcutsPress SHIFT five times: Toggles sticky keys on and offPress down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles Filter Keys on and offPress down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles Toggle Keys on and offLeft ALT + left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles Mouse Keys on and offLeft ALT + left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Dialog Box Keyboard Commands TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog boxSHIFT + TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog boxSPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the optionENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel buttonALT + underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item.